NCJ Number
116606
Date Published
Unknown
Length
27 pages
Annotation
This monograph counters nine approaches to child sexual abuse prevention that tend to confuse the child and aggravate abusive situations.
Abstract
Negative and fearful prevention efforts frighten children and make them averse to prevention efforts. Prevention efforts that use prepackaged lectures, leaving little room for children to ask questions and discuss issues, are likely to maintain or increase barriers between adults and children that discourage children from discussing possible incidents of sexual abuse. Prevention education that avoids specific discussion of the children's genitalia leaves too much room for children to misunderstand the nature of sexual abuse and discourages frank communication about sexual experiences. Prevention efforts must also be specific about why sexual contact between an adult and a child is inappropriate. Because sexual abusers of children are so manipulative, children must have a clear understanding of what constitutes sexual abuse, even though the touching may be initially pleasurable to the child. This involves helping the children develop a value system regarding 'good' and 'bad' touching. Teaching children to say 'No' to sexual abuse and emphasizing a total prohibition against all persons touching their genitalia is unrealistic, given the subtle approaches of sexual abusers and the times when parents and medical professionals will touch children's genitals appropriately. Sexual abuse prevention is an ongoing process and should not be viewed as a once-and-for all event.